Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 12, 2026

 August 12 -- John 3: 8-15 "'The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.' Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?' Jesus answered him, 'Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.'"

Prayer focus for today: Every day we are bombarded with information - from our phones, radios, televisions, computers, tablets, people, billboard signs, product packaging, magazines, books, and the list could go on and on. Nicodemus was seeking information, and he went to the source for the true answer to his questions. Pray today for discernment to go to the source for the information you seek. If you want to know the truth concerning a rumor you heard about someone, go to that person ... don't continue to be involved in rumors or gossip. If you want to know the truth about a political candidate, go to the source ... don't get caught up in false news. If you want to know the truth about Jesus, go to the Word of God ... pray, repent, listen, learn. 

Pray today for those who are following false 'twists' of God's Word, believing they are following Jesus, that they may understand the truth and turn to Christ alone. Pray that each of us would seek truth and turn from tendencies to gossip or blindly believe things we see on social media and spread it as truth. Pray today for the elections coming up throughout the world (on our hearts today are Zambia and the United States), that truth would reign and peace be maintained. Specifically, please join us in prayers for our home -- Zambia. Elections take place tomorrow (13 August). Pray God would calm the violence and keep our nation united as "One Zambia, One Nation."